Study in the US

Applying to US universities can be a challenging process; writing essays,
navigating application portals, sitting standardised tests and keeping your
nerve during interviews all takes preparation. Yet more Australian students are
realising that the opportunities abroad are a springboard for success.

However, studying a degree overseas isn't for everyone. It's a decision that
requires consideration, long-term planning and support from family and the
school community.

Three key tips:

1. Start researching early - Year 10 or 11
is ideal

2. Establish a timeline (and stick to it!)

3. Gather support to enable your goals

This guide aims to equip you with key information regarding the US university
application processes.

There are more than 3,700 colleges to choose from in the US and it's becoming an
increasingly popular study destination for international students.

With such a wide choice of colleges, it's important you do thorough research to
help you look beyond brand-name colleges such as Harvard or Stanford and instead
find colleges that would be the best fit for you depending on your interests and
the kind of lifestyle you want.

At present, the most popular states for international students to study include
Texas, New York and California. With the pace of entrepreneurship and growth of
technology sectors in the US, the most popular degrees include engineering,
business and management, mathematics and computer science. Remember, the vast
majority of undergraduate courses in the US are four years.

In terms of education, the liberal arts degree in the US is one of the main
reasons Australian students apply there. A liberal arts degree allows you to
explore a wide variety of subjects in order to gain a more complex understanding
of the world. Instead of majoring in something specific and vocational, such as
astronomy, you would major in natural sciences. In this instance, many of your
courses will be focused on natural sciences but you will also take a range of
courses in other subjects.

This degree structure has the backing of some of the world's most prominent
business people including billionaire Mark Cuban which you can read an article
about
here.

Here's a quote from a New Zealand student, Jeffrey, who is now studying at Duke
University in North Carolina. "For the first two years of a liberal arts
degree, you are able to explore different fields before deciding what you want
to specialise in. For example, I've taken classes in Chinese, art history,
computer science, biology, maths and writing. I'm intending to major in
economics but now I've also decided to pick up a second major in computer
science. It amazes me to think that if I stayed at the University of Auckland (I
attended for one semester initially), I would have never been exposed to
computer science and would not have the opportunity to pursue a career in tech."

Smaller liberal arts colleges don't often appear on rankings lists as they only
have undergraduate courses. Some of the most well-known and competitive entry
liberal arts colleges include Williams, Swarthmore and Amherst.

Application Platforms:

The vast majority of colleges from Harvard through to Alabama University use the
Common App. You can
apply to a maximum of 20 colleges using the Common App. A few exceptions to this
are California public schools such as UC Berkeley and UCLA, which have their own
application platforms as well as MIT and a few other smaller schools.

Applying Rounds and Application Strategy:

Knowing when to apply can be confusing in the US as there are three different
rounds: early action, early decision and regular decision.

1. Early Action Round

Applying for the early action round is looked upon
favourably by colleges so it's a good idea to apply in this round if you
have the time. If you get accepted, the decision is not final. You'll
submit applications in December and get replies in January. Check each
college for specific deadlines.

2. Early Decision Round

This round is different because if the college accepts
you, it is binding. This means you have committed to going to this
college so be careful when considering where you apply to via early
decision. Again, you'll submit applications in December and find out in
January.

3. Regular Decision Round

The majority of students will apply through the regular
decision round which makes it more competitive. Applications are
submitted between late December and early January (depending on the
college) and decisions are released between March and April. You will
get either accepted, waitlisted or rejected. If you get waitlisted by a
college you wish to attend, it's a good idea to send a letter to
admissions officers to say that you still want to be considered in case
other students don't accept their offer.

The US college year starts late August/early September. We recommend students
apply to local universities and start first semester here in Australia while
waiting to hear from universities overseas. You can then defer your local
university course to take up your offer overseas.

A typical strategy is to apply to eight colleges - two dream colleges, two to
three colleges that you're likely to get into and two to three colleges you feel
assured of securing an offer.

Keep an eye out for open days, student ambassador webinars, and information
sessions, as it's not only a great chance to learn more about prospective
colleges but it's a good way to demonstrate your interest to admissions officers
who take record of attendance.

Personal Statements and Supplementary Essays:

The personal statement is your opportunity to convey your individual voice. Keep
in mind that admissions officers are not only looking for academic students but
those who will make a positive contribution to campus life and go on to be
leaders of the future. You are required to write one personal statement of
approximately 600 words which is submitted through the Common App. It is sent to
all the universities you apply for.

Australian students are more accustomed to writing analytical essays than
writing about themselves. For this reason, it is a good idea to download the
free
personal statement eBook written by Crimson Education consultants.

In addition, many universities will require two to three supplementary essays to
be written, for which they provide prompts. This is where the unique character
of each university starts to show. For example, University of Chicago is known
for its quirky approach so they're looking for similarly alternative students.
Some of their past essay prompts include 'Find X' and 'What's odd about odd
numbers?'.

Extracurricular Activities and Leadership:

In the Common App, there are 10 spaces for you to show admissions officers your
involvement in extracurricular activities and leadership initiatives, and extra
spaces for awards and honours. This is an opportunity to differentiate yourself
from the crowd and to give your application a strong narrative. For example, if
you are passionate about environmental science, you would ideally be involved in
extracurricular and leadership activities related to this, such as planting
trees and volunteering for environmental charities or clubs. Most universities
will be looking to see your involvement in activities that you have created
yourself in addition to existing institutional activities such as school sport
and music. For more information, download this
free eBook on how to excel in your US application written by Crimson
Education.

Exams:

To attend a US college, you must take either the
SAT or
ACT exam. The majority of the
content on these tests are based on material you would have already covered in
high school and because you live in an English speaking country, you have a
distinct advantage for the writing and reading sections.

Added advantages of the SAT and ACT is that they are valid for five years, you
can take the test multiple times and many colleges (but not all) accept a 'super
score' which combines your highest scoring sections across multiple tests.

Both exams have reading, writing and maths sections. The ACT also has a science
section. There are six testing dates throughout the year and testing centres are
located around Australia. It costs approximately $80AUD to register and take the
SAT or ACT.

It is generally recommended students interested in studying in the US take the
SAT or ACT once in Year 11 and again in Year 12 to maximise the chance of
getting a high score.

Top universities will also require you to sit two SAT Subject Tests. The tests
you take are chosen by you although some courses may ask you to take specific
tests that align with that course e.g. maths subject test is required by most
engineering courses.

For a guide on SAT/ACT scores required to gain admission to US universities,
download this
free eBook provided by Crimson Education.

Colleges will also take into account your final high school exam marks whether
that's an ATAR or IB score but there are no cut-off scores. If you are applying
in the early rounds, you can ask your school to provide a predicted ATAR which
will usually suffice.

References and Academic Transcripts:

The majority of universities will ask you to provide two written references.
These are commonly sourced from a school teacher, sports coach or community
leader. It is your responsibility to make sure you ask for these references well
in advance and provide your referees with all the necessary information about
your achievements and interests.

Colleges also commonly ask to see your academic transcripts from Year 9 through
to Year 12. You can request official transcripts from your school.

Interview:

As a final step, many universities will require you to be interviewed. This is
usually with an alumni of the university either face-to-face or over the phone
and can be quite informal. This interview is the final step to determine whether
you are not only a good fit for the university from a social and cultural
standpoint.

Weighting:

As a general guide, US applications are weighted as follows:
50% Academics (SAT / ACT & SAT Subject Tests as well as high school marks and
academic transcripts)
30% Extracurricular and Leadership Activities
20% Application Essays and Interview

Admissions Rates:

Top universities are notoriously competitive to gain admission to. As a result,
you can expect the top 20 universities in the US will have an admissions rate
under 10%.
Costs:

In Australia, many students go through uni acquiring a HECS debt and in the US,
approximately 95% of students are on some kind of Financial Aid. The difference
between the two systems is that Financial Aid is not a loan and you will not be
asked to pay it back. Financial Aid is awarded to students on a 'needs basis'
after reviewing the financial details of families who apply.

As a case study, in 2016 at Harvard, 98% of students were on some kind of
financial aid. The average family received approximately $50,000USD a year in
aid and contributed $12,000USD which is inclusive of living expenses.
Universities are able to afford Financial Aid due to the generosity of alumni
donors. For more information on costs, Google 'net calculator' along with the
name of the university you're interested in to get rough estimates of the cost
per year based on your family's financial situation.

If you have dual citizenship between Australia and the US, we recommend you
apply as a US citizen.

Other Reasons to Consider Overseas Study:

Employability

Students attending top-ranked universities may not have to go looking for a job
after the degree as the jobs come to them. World-leading companies such as
Goldman Sachs, Bain and McKinsey & Co actively recruit on-campus at top
universities. See university employability rankings for more information.

Facilities

What sets top universities apart from the rest of the world are the exceptional
facilities they have. This could be cutting edge science labs through to
professional level sport facilities. Whatever your passions are, find the
university that has concentrated its investment in that particular field.

Professors

Top universities are also top research institutes. This means that places like
Stanford University have 19 Nobel laureates on staff. If you have a specific
passion for a subject, research the best professors in the field and apply for
universities they teach at. In some cases, it may be a university you had never
even heard of.

Alumni Network

Top-ranked universities are well-known for having an extensive and supportive
alumni network which runs even deeper if you happen to be members of the same
clubs and activities.

Lifestyle

And finally there is the on-campus lifestyle. This includes everything from the
hundreds of extracurricular clubs on campus, the fraternities and sororities and
the unique university spirit in the US to the collegiate life and sense of
history in the UK.

This information was provided to you by
Crimson Education, a global mentoring
company specialising in the US & UK admissions process, sport scholarships,
local med school entry and tutoring for high school curriculums. In Australia,
Crimson Education has offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Support is
provided online and the initial consultation with an Academic Advisor is free.